Identification-tag chain



Dec. 18 1923. 1,477,729

A. J. THOMA ET AL IDENTIFICATION TAG CHAIN Filed Nov. 4. 1922 Patented Dee. I8, i923.

UNT STATES ANTON J. THOMA, F CINCINNATI, OHIO, AND ALEXANDER, EKLUND, OF ATTIJEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL CHAIN COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

IDENTIFICATION-TAG CHAIN.

Application filed November 4, 1922. Serial ITo. 599,008.

To all whom it 'may con-cern.:

Be it known that we, ANTON J. THOMA and ALEXANDER EKLUND, citizens of the United States, residing at Cincinnati and Attleboro, respectively, in the counties of Hamilton and Bristol, respectively, and States of Ohio and Massachusetts, respectively, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Identification-Tag Chains,

\ of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to identificationtag chains more particularly adapted to be attached to the ankle, wrist or neck of a newly-born baby so that the mother while in a maternity hospital may be sure that her own child is returned to her, after having been mixed up with others; and the object of this invention is to provide a lightchain of the required length having a connector to which one end of the chain is permanently connected, the other end of the chain being provided with a lock link which when connected to the opposite end of the connector member also becomes permanently attached thereto, thus positively preventing the tag from being removed after having been positioned, without cutting` the chain.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connector member with a surface adapted to receive a distinct identification mark. l

A still further object of the invention is to construct a chain and parts of such material that it will not corrode under action of water or the oils in the skin.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation illustrating my improved identication-tag chain with its ends permanently attached to a connector member. I

Figure 2 shows the tubular connector member in section with its end walls turned inwardly leaving a slot in each end through which the different lock links are passed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the connector member.

Figure t is a, view of a short length of chain of which the device is constructed.

Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the lock links,- showing one end offset to engage the inner face of the end wall of the connector to lock the end of the chain thereto.

Figure 6 shows this lock-link as being adapted to be applied to any one of the several end links of the chain so as to adjust its length to the required size.

Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation of two lock links as retained within the hollow connector member.

It is found in practice, particularly in maternity hospitals where a mother is always anxious and requires much assurance that the identity of her child shall not be iost in its association with the many other children in the hospital and that her own shall be returned to her. To accomplish this result in a simple and effective way, we have provided an identification-tag chain which is adapted to be very readily applied and locked to a limb or neck of the child in such a way that it cannot be removed unless the chain is cut, and this chain is provided with a member adapted to carry a plainly visible and unmistakable mark of either numbers or characters whereby the identity of a child wearing the same cannot possibly be lost; and the following is a detailed description of one construction of identification-tag chain whereby this result may be accomplished vWith reference to the drawings, l0 designates a chain of any suitable material, the end links of which are preferably formed sufficiently open so that a lock link, presently described, may be readily applied thereto.

In order to attach the ends of this chain together, we have provided a connector member 1l which is herein shown as being in tubular form with its ends 12 turned inwardly leaving a slot 13 at each end through which the lock link may pass, but I do not wish to be restricted to forming this connector of round tubing as the same may be constructed of flat tubing or in any other suitable form to receive and retain the locking links.

In order to provide simple and effective means for connecting the ends of the chain to this connector member, we have con-- structed a so-called locking link 14 having two side arms l5 and 16 bent into U-shape,

the arm 15 having a return bend arm 17 With an offset end 18 set out of alignment With the plane of the other arms 15 and 16, vvhereby as this lock link is inserted through the opening 13 in the end of the tubular connector its offset end 1S will naturally be slightly compressed and as soon as this end has entered the tube it will automatically spring out and return to its normal offset position, as illustrated in Figure 7, thereby permanently locking this link into its end of the connector member. These lock links are preferably connected to both ends of the chain and one end may be permanently connected to the connector when the device is sold, but the second end is not to be connected to the connector member until it has been applied to the body of a child.

In some cases it may be found advisable to make the chain long enough to be applied about the neck of the child, While in other cases it may be preferred to apply the device to the Wrist of the child or about its ankle. In order to adjust the chain to the required length, We have formed the end of arm 16 of the lock link so that it may be threaded through any one of the links 19 adjacent the end of the chain, after which the surplus chain may be cut oil lea-ving the chain the length desired.

In practice the slot 13 in the end of the tubular connector member is of a size to closely fit the wire of the lock link and the link 19 of the chain is drawn closely up against the outer end wall of the connector so as to practically close the openings into the 'connector to exclude moisture therefrom. v

@ur improved identification-tag chain is very simple and yet practical in its construction and upon being applied it may be readily locked permanently in position so that it can be removed Without first serving the chain.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but we desire it to be understood that we reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being delined and lirnited only by the terms of the appended ClZtlllS. e

1. An identification-tag chain having a hollen1 connector member adapted to carry an identification mark, one end of said chain being permanently attached to said connector, and a lock link comprising a resilient piece of Wire bent tivice upon itself and having substantially oppbsitely extending ends, one of said ends being adapted to readily engage any one of the several links of the chain to regulate its working length and the other end being offset and adapted to enter the connector and permanently lock the link therein.

Q. A chain having a series of loop-like links,` a tubular connector attached to one end thereof and provided with an end having a narroivslot therethrough, a lock link formed of Wire folded twice. upon itself having its three plies substantially in the same plane to enter said slot and practically close the saine, one end of said lock link being laterally offset to prevent removal thereof from said connector, said lock link being adapted to be hooked into different loop links of the chain to regulate its Working length.

3. in combination a chain having a series of loop-like links, a tubular connector having an end with a narrow slot therein, a lock link adapted to be hooked into dierent loop links and provided With an offset end adjacent one end of said lock link .vhereby When said lock link is inserted into said slot said offset end locks the end of the engaged loop link closely against the end Wall of the connector to cooperate with the engaging end of the lock link to close the said slot. a

ln testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

ANTON J. THOR/LLV ALEXANDER EKLUND. 

